Tobacco-moistener.



PATENTBD MAR. 10, 1908.

J.P.GATES. TOBACCO MOISTENER. v APPLICATION FILED JUNE 20,1907.

. bacco box or pouch.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES P. GATES, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOHN GLISOH,

- OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 10, 1908.

Application filed June 20, 1907. Serial No. 379,833.

' Wisconsin,have invented new and useful Improvements in Tobacco-Moisteners, of which the following is a specification.

My invention re ates to improvements in tobacco moisteners.

The object of my invention is to provide a small removable receptacle composed of noncorro'sive material perforated on opposite sides and filled with a body of absorbent material which is not subject to decay, the receptacle being capable of being loosely deposited in a tobacco pouch or box where it will be moved from one point to another in the act of removing tobacco or cigars from the pouch or box and the tobacco thus kept sufficiently moist to prevent deterioration.

In the following descri tion reference is had to the accompanying rawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a plan view of my invention. Fig. 2 an edge view of the same, and Fig. 3 a sectional view.

Like parts are identified by the same reference characters throughout the several views.

A receptacle, preferably circular in form, is provided with a erforated top A and bottom B, the side wa ls being curved inwardly and lapped u on each other in the form of a circular bea C, the meeting walls being pressed together so as to permanently unite the top and bottom portlons. Within the receptacle is located a body of absorbent material D, preferably asbestos or mineral wool, which may be permitted to project in light feathery strings E from the apertures F in the top and bottom walls and whereby the moisture, carried by the body of asbestos within the receptacle will be distributed, not onlybyevaporationthrough perforations,but by capillary attraction. The top and bottom walls are preferably made substantially fiat as shown and have rounded margins presenting no sharp edges which might otherwise damage the wrappers of cigars.

The receptacle when dried is dropped into a basin of water which readily penetrates the absorbent material by reason of the fact that there are perforations in both the top and bottom walls. When filled with water, the receptacle is removed and placed in the to- The provision of the perforations in both the top and bottom walls not only facilitates entry of water into the receptacle but also facilitates evaporation as a slight circulation of air is possible through the receptacle.

When freshly filled with water, the receptacle may be placed on edge as illustrated in Fig. 2 and as the rounded sides are imperforate, any surplus water in the receptacle will settle into the im erforate margin and will not pass through-the perforations in the top and bottom walls. As the'cigars are removed from the box, however, the receptacle will be shifted to different parts thereof and will be turned on its side, thus distributing the moisture.

I attach great importance to the fact that the receptacle is unattached and free to move from side to side, since a fixed receptacle tends to produce excessive moisture in one portion of the box, especially if in actual or approximate contact with the cigars or tobacco, it being well known that tobacco absorbs moisture with great facility.

I- also consider it important that the receptacle should be formed of non-corrosive light material such as aluminium, that its outer surface be smooth with no square corners or projections which could injure the wrappers of the cigars, ent material shall be such as will not decay asbestos fiber being preferred.

Having thus described my invention what and that the absorbe- I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,

1. A tobacco moistener comprising a loose unattached receptacle having sub stantially fiat top and bottom walls and imperforate rounded sides interlocking with each other toform a permanently closed receptacle, said top and bottom walls being perforated and said receptacle containing av ody of absorbent material not. subject to decay, such as asbestos or mineral wool;

2. A tobacco moistener comprising a loose unconnected receptacle having substantially flat'top and bottom walls and with a smooth surface and without corners or projections rounded sides interlocking with each other to form apermanently closed receptacle, said top and bottom walls being perforated and said receptacle containing a body of absorbent material not subjectto decay, such as asbestos or mineral wool, the

ried by said material is distributed both by absorbent material being permitted to extend in light feathery strings through some of the openings, whereby the moisture car- In testimony whereof I aliix my signature 111 the presence of two witnesses.

JAMES P. GATES.

evaporation through the perforations and by Vitnesses: capillary attracting and by evaporation from l O. R. ERWIN, 1 the outwardly projecting portions. LEVERETT (J. VHEELER. 

